Moneygall survive Portroe test to continue their pursuit of Intermediate title

FBD County Intermediate Hurling Quarter Final 2024 

Moneygall 2-24 

Portroe 3-13

By Liam Hogan 

Championship favourites, Moneygall had to steer through muddy waters before entering calmer seas in the second half to earn a decisive eight-point victory over 14-man Portroe.

In a repeat of the North final meeting which Moneygall won comprehensively the game was in the balance up to the 36th minute when two points separated the sides, 2-14 to 3-9 before Moneygall hit five unanswered points in the next twelve minutes. By then Portroe were down to fourteen men when they lost Michael Breen to a second yellow card in the 47th minute which may not have helped their cause as Moneygall were gaining traction at that stage. 

Portroe had one major change before the throw-in with Diarmuid Boyle taking over from the injured Darren Gleeson but as expected they attacked from the start and twenty seconds in they forced Ciaran Quinlan to make a good save when he denied Jack Moloney. Failure to clear by Moneygall allowed Anthony Bourke to open the scoring ten seconds later. 

From the restart, Moneygall were back in the danger zone where Paddy Fogarty had the ball in the net after Joe Fogarty provided the assist. Portroe responded with Sam Madden bisecting the posts with a brilliant sideline ball before A J Willis sliced through a nervous Moneygall backline to have the ball bulging the net on four minutes and the Arra men were in front 1-2 to 1-0. 

However, there was no panic with Moneygall, and three unanswered points, including two from Joe Fogarty with one from a free, had them in front by a point after twelve minutes. The teams had begun to settle but, six minutes later, there was another nervous moment in the Moneygall rearguard as John Sheedy and Willis put Anthony Bourke through for Port’s second goal. Portroe in front by three. Was there a shock in store? 

Not a bit of it as the North champions took charge again and in the next nine minutes they outscored Port 0-5 to 0-2 with Adam Hogan leading the charge in midfield and well supported by Sean Fogarty and Joe Fogarty who weaved his magic with points either side of a Sean Kennelly score which brought the sides level Moneygall 1-8 Portroe 2-5.

A poorly executed puckout by Port saw Adam Hogan take advantage and edge Moneygall in front and the lead increased to three after Sean Kenneally and Joe Fogarty added a point each, the latter a brilliant score. 

But true to form there was another piece of Portroe cuteness. John Sheedy’s sideline ball very close to the corner flag was short and swift to Willis who turned his marker and gave Ciaran Quinlan no chance to make the scores were level 1-11 to 3-5 as the sides headed towards the dressing rooms. 

After the restart, Joe Fogarty moved Moneygall into the lead with a free on twenty five seconds. Sixty seconds later Sean Kenneally brushed many challenges to one side before finding the net all coming from a Joe Fogarty assist after the latter had dispossessed Diarmuid Boyle who was about to clear. 

The teams then shared parity in scoring six points in as many minutes including a brace from Sean Kenneally to make made it Moneygall 2-15 and Portroe 3-8. 

Robert Byrne replied with a long-range free only to see Adam Hogan respond from distance, the first of five unanswered points by the North champions as wing-back Cian Ryan scored followed by Sean Kenneally, Mark Fanning, and Adam Hogan who had taken over the free-taking duties from Joe Fogarty who had just missed two in a row. 

Port, then had the misfortune to see Michael Breen sent off and play had become ragged as both sidelines introduced several substitutes. The break allowed Port take advantage with two John Sheedy frees in the 50th and 53rd minutes. 

However, the pendulum began to swing back in Moneygall’s favour as their midfield pairing of Adam Hogan and Aodhan Ryan crowned their day with a point each in quick succession as Moneygall went seven clear and five minutes remaining. 

Points by Willis and Madden brought Port back to within five but thats as far as it got for the North runners up as the divisional champions upped the ante with another flourish as Adam Hogan (free), Aodhan Ryan and Sean Fogarty added a point each to seal victory and a place in the last four with the favourite’s tag firmly attached to their backs. 

Moneygall: Kieran Quinlan; Cathal Kennedy, Jack Kirwan, Cathal Greene; Cian Ryan (0-1), Brendan Toohey, Eoin Whyte; Adam Hogan (0-6, 0-3f), Aodhan Ryan (0-2); Joe Fogarty (0-7, 0-3f), Sean Fogarty (0-2), Bob Kenny (0-1); Paddy Fogarty (1-0), Tadgh Whyte, Sean Kenneally (1-4). 

Subs used: Niall Maher for Kenny (20-23 blood sub); Mark Fanning (0-1) for T Whyte (44); Niall Maher for Kenny (58). 

Portroe: Dermot Boyle; Christopher O’ Riordan, Adrian O’Halloran, Cian Hogan; Michael Breen, Brian Keating, Robert Byrne (0-2f); Jack O’Callaghan, Colm Gleeson; AJ Willis (2-2), John Sheedy (0-4f), Sam Madden (0-3); Jack Moloney (0-1), Mark Gennery, Anthony Bourke (1-1). 

Subs used: Justin Conroy (6) for Hogan (50). 

Referee: Tom McGlinchey (Newport)